Pivoted external counterweight



yJLL1y-\1,1. rL:o.' F; B. CALDWELL 1,768,825

I IVOTED EXTERNAL COUNTERWEIGHT Filed March 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. B. CALDWELL PIVOTED EXTERNAL COUNTERWEIGHT July 1, 1930.

Filed .March 4, 1927 "4 sheets-sheet 2 July. 1, 1930. F. B. CALDWELL s PIVOTED EXTERNAL COUNTERWEIGHT v 4 sheets-smet 3 Filed March 4, 1927 July 1, 1930. F. B. CALDWELLv PVOTED EXTERNAL COUNTRWEIGHT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l l l l l I l I l l l l l l l l l I I Il NKY .Wm w L o l i l o IW -1.. o o di@ mgw NQ@ Mw mit.

Y Patented July-1,1930 f i c *FRANK B CALDWELL? Crean` 2524x311'Nr ILLrnoIs, nssrenon To Linx-BELT oom-'rant' 'or originado, ittinos','n 'oonronnrron or'frnninois,

:ervaren EXTERNALQQUNTEEWEIGHT Al appnanoaiea March-4, 19,27. `semi Nd. 172,5ea

My invention relatesxtoimprovements in car unloaders kand hasA Vfori oneY object to provide a *new andi improved form ofcar holding clamp which holds the car inztliev cradlefduring the dumpingoperation. An#V other object is tovprovide afform of car holding clamp wherein the' Weightsv adaptedto hold the car on the cradle are located and; supported at a y'point removed from the n 1o cradle thereby makingV it possible tot-remove the Weight fromA1 the cradle, thus providing a cheaper structure yandzone which can be more easily obtained. @ther objects will appear from time toi time throughoutthe 15 specificationand claims; v K

My invention lis illustrated more -or less diagrainmatically in `the. accompanying drawings, wherein-- t i I f Figure l is a side elevation With parts in 2f; section;

Figure 2 is a; section lalong* theline 2 2 Y of Figurel;

lligure 3 is asection 'similarto Figure 2 except that the parts are' shownlaiter the car v' has reached'substantially `the dumpingy position" Y VFigure, l is a section along the lined-4 ofFig'ureS. i

` Like parts arejindicated byl like characters throughout Vthe specification andfdrawings.

is a concrete or other suitable construction upon which the structurev may be erected. VA1v is the hopperinto which the -car isto be dumped.' A2 A2 are pillow blocks mounted on the `foundation, ,tied toy gether by the rods. A3. k'Pivotedon these pillow-blocks are equalizing levers A4. Y At each end of the equalizingleven is afroller A5 A5. There may be aplurality of these pairs of .equalizing levers spaced along the foundation preferably I provide, however, one Vpair Vat either end so that the carV unloaderis supported onlyat its tivo endsuponthe four rollers carried bythe pairof equalizing levers. A@ is acar dumping cradle It comprises a `bridge or girder structureY A7 terminating yateither end/in a roller ring n ltis these yroller ringsthat rest upon tiasrollers:A5 A5 .to permitkrotationoithe Aft -or' illustrated them here cradle.` A9 is a turning cable.` There are tvvo ofthese cables, each cable is anchored at each end onfa roller ring by' meansgof; ab

sliding rod-A10 travelingin a trunnion block i A1.1,which block is pivoted-in ear'SiAl?. A 55 spring A13 is interposed between the"fare/ndev ofthe trunnion'block andan adjustingnutl v AML onthe endoff the rodAlU, c This Cablesj Wound about a driving-v drumf'A15 Vand since itisdead ended ontheroller ring, rotation 6o,

A:L9 but smooth atlth'e other endjso that the cradle 'is' anchored by the engagementfof .the slottedrollzer atl one endfreeto Y.expan and? contract at thevother. c Y n A Carried by the lower'portion of thelcradlej are a pluralityrof transverse tracksB. On 801.;

. them traveltransfer rollers B1, which rollers carry the laterally movable transfer table'Bi?.V Railroad tracks. B?l extend longitudinally' Lori: Y this `transfer' table along the lengthv ofthe cradle andy the car B1* as indicated"-Iliayff.

travel alongjthese tracksinto dumping posi? tion on the cradle." It Will benotedthat the cradle. is Vgenerally U-shaped vin crosss'e'c,- Y tionptosupport the car( There is a pad B ati one side of the cradle so that as thecradle? 90 rotates in a counter clockwise direction from; theposition shownl in Fig-ure l, the transfer table as it travels to the left Will-permit the` carto be brought to rest ,againstthe pad B5, assuming with :respect totheicradle the'posi 95" tion shown in; 'Figure' c The means forc'on-y trolling this movement of the transfer table during operation form no part of present invention and I thereforehave not dis There are a plurality of clamps provided to hold the car in place in the cradle when in the dumping position. They are similar, however, and a description of one set of clamps -vvill suffice for all because there are separate manipulating and holding means for each pair, which means are with some exec tions to all intents and purposes inde.

. pen ent one of the` other.

C are clamp guides' arranged in opposed pairs on opposite sides ofthe cradle V"extending vertically above the cars. C2 C3 o slight overhan are car lding clamps adapted to engage the upper edge of the carv and hold it in the cradle.` The clamp C2. has a `comparatively i because the movement of the'tmms'fer tab e brings the car over against thev pad B beneaththe overhang of the Y f clamp C. Since cars, however,`are of different widths,ithe clamp Chas a very coneeelid sderable overhang so that no matter how nnrrowthe car, that clamp will always be able to reach and engage it.

In'=theposition.shown in Figure 2, the

25` olalpefare raised above the car to the maximum elevation to permit cars of maximum height as well as lower ones to enter the Structure.' The clamp `raising system coml position shown, this clamp raising counteri 49" wei ht has'come toa full stop against the un erside of the 4concrete foundation and therefore the clamps are positively lifted as 'a result of the rotational movement, the lbition 'of the parts being such that the distance in this-case between the sheave C9 andthe sheaves()6 and C7 around the slieave Clisla maximum. Referring now to F igun thedumpin position, the distance "Ween the `sheave and the sheaves C @IC7 is greatly reduced. Infact, the

l' t @laws Cis now altogether out of contact the cable C4 and barely touches the cableC.' These two cables riding around Pulley C1? equalize with respect to the "indalterweight C10 so as to exert an equal ltension on the two clamps at all times.

" me clampsl having 4been lowered to engageetheear,. the clamp raising counterweight C@ is now` out of contact with the foundationand hangs freely, exerting on the cables only that tension resultant from its weight.

'Bferring nowto the clamp holding sys-v 1 l dem, `Dis acable dead ended at one end on 05 the clamp C `passing down around the mounted 'for rotation with the shaft E5.

Aout reference to the ratchet.

sheave D". 'Out adjacent the periphery of the roller rings with the sheave D12 spaced Y inside such periphery, the cable extends down over a sheave D13 and up in line with Vthe travel of the clamp to the clamp C2 where it is dead ended. Y

The carriage D6 is provided with rollers E adapted to roll along the track D4. E1 is a cable dead ended on the carriage D6 and wound about the small drum E2.V This small drum is rigidl mounted. on the shaft E3 in pillow blocks E4. E5 is a large drumrigidly` mounted on the shaft E3. Dead ended and wound about itis a cable E which cable extends down and terminates at the holding counterweight E?. E5 is a ratchet wheel El) is a counterweighted lever votally mounted on theshaft E3. El is a og pivoted on the lever E9 and adapted under some conditions to engage the ratchet E8..

The spring F interposed between astirrup F l and the tail of the dog El tends normally to hold the dog in engagement with the ratchet. F 2 is a bell crank lever pivoted on the foundation engaging the tail of the dog and adapted to compress the spring and hold the dog out ofengagement with the ratchet. F3 is a thrust rod terminating :1t a lever F on the shaft F, which lever is associated with a counterweighted lever F6, the weight of the counterweight. tending to hold the bell crank lever in the position shown in Figure 2 whereby the pendulum or counterweighted lever E is free to rotate onV the shaft with- F7 is a cam roller on the opposed end of the lever F". This roller projects outwardly toward the peripher Vof the roller ring into the path of the cam F. In the osition shown 1n Fig- Vure 2 the counterweightedlever is'disconnected. In the position shown in Figure 3, the cam Fa has forced the lever F into the opposite position retracting the bell crank lever F2', permitting the spring to cause the dog to engage-the vratchet and we now find that the counterweighted lever E9 is locked on the shaft E3 and further rotation of the cradle exerting a tension on the cable D causes rotation of the lever E9 and raises the counterweight E".l

It willbe noted that in the position shown inFiguref 2, the counterweight E7 is at' this upper position. The counterweiglited lever E9 hangs freely. As the cradle rotates the o A' 1C? C5 permitting the clamps to descend to sheave D2 recedes `'from the sheave D3. The cable D as it extends `around the sheaves D7 LL`D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 is shortened as' itv passes oli the sheave D3 ina clockwise direction and is lengthened somewhat asit passes o the D5 in a counter clockwise direction, the ultimate result being to iirst move the sheave-Dk' on the carriage D6 toward the right ,paying yout on the counterweightfk E T and later to are as follows:

n then started and the cradle vis rotated in a counter clockwise direction. yThis rotation move it toward the leftv again` lifting up on the oounterweight E7 andy also on the counterweighted ylever so that the'weight of thev car in the dumping position is carried both by the counterweight E1,the counterweight E working through the differential drums E5 E2 and the counterweighted lever E9 eX- erting its force ,through the long lever arm.

It will be noted that there are only two counterweighted levers F? and that the shaft F5 along the entire length ofy the'cradle controls the dog for each of the two counter- Weighted levers associated onewith each yoi? the clamps.V

While I have shown'the sheavek D5 traveling with a carriage, having rollers and the like, it will be understood that by the lane,-

guage carriagef I do not mean Vany particular kind of carriage and the sheave itself; might be held in position merely by the sup-V ortinfr cables andse'rve as its own carriage ywithout departing from the spirit of Imy invention.

The use and operation yof my invention With the parts'l shown "in the position shown in Figure 2 the car is *run onto the transfer table, the motor or yother drive is tends to pay out on the clamp lifting wcables l engage the top ofthe can At the Sametime and before the clamps have actually come into engagement with'thek car, thetransfer side wall of the cradle.

theclamps will cause a paying out of the car Y holding counterweight E7 until when the themselves.

-with the differential drum* shaft.

Vtable will have to move toward the left to bring the car side into engagement with the The lowering of parts are in the position shown in `full lines in Figure 3 the car holding clamp counterweight will have come down a considerable distance beneath the foundation.

through an angle of' approximatelyninety 'degrees,'the onlyholding power exerted,

by the clamps is supplied by the counterweight E and the weight otV the clamps At a certain .predetermined angle when the cam F8 comes'into operation the counterweighted lever is engaged At this point'in the rotation, the compensated effeet is diminished s o that there is a tendency to move the carriage D6 to the left. This( Duringv this time funtilfthe dumper has rotated movement raises the? :counterweight and also theffcounterweighted lever yEPis rotated Y in counter.l clockwise;v direction Y from' the vertical. positio-n when the car damper-has been rotated throu'gh lan "angle,v of approximately ninety degrees to a substantialiyzhorizontal position Whenkthe ear yis Yatthe fortyiizvedegree "angle of dump Thus when the :can is :at itsL furthest'excursion and the-loadv ion-the holding system is greatest the counterweighted lever' israt ,approxi-mately. the;` horizontal `position-'and in. a position wherel it 'can exertiitsmaximum effect.v Upon thel Vreturn movement-v of the dumper. the reverse of these-operations take pl` ee. L

Iolaim:r 4 f f LA" car. dumper comprising a rotatableA cradle; car holding clampsk and-means for: 1

operating them .comprising a movable car-` riage, a positive connection between the-carriage and thegclamps, mean'slfor displacingV the carriage to take vupv slack-in the connection, and separate means associated with-the carriage for: holding it to! support a.- oar while in the dumping position, a traekalong which the carriage travels, the track and car fwhile in the-'dumping positionythe carv ria-ge holding'means omprisi'nga drum, faf

mounted for ,rotation about an axis Concentric with-the drum and Ameans ycontrolled by the cradle and operative'after the cradlel has-rotated. a. predetermined amount for connecting the leverand the drum so that movement ofthe cradle responsive to the tension on the clamp and ycable will beresisted by the oounterweighted lever.

3. A ear dumper comprising-a rotatable cradle, car holding clamps and means for operating them comprising a counterweight,

cable wound about the drum and-'dead end- 'Y ted on the carriage, a counterweightedlever aV sheave removed from the cradle and sheaves on. the cradle, a cable extending romthe counterweight oversaid sheaves to the clampsv whereby rotation 'of the cradle towardthe car dumping position' decreases the distance between one of the sheaves on the cradle and thesheave removed from the y cradle toy pay out the counterweight and permit the clampsv tolower toward a car rand a stop removed from the counterweight whereby as the cradle rotates away from the dumping f position the counterweight is brought into engagement with the stop and positively raises the clamps',V and a .movable carriage, a positive connection between itl 4 y Y V1,768,325

and the clamps, yielding means for displacing the. carriage totake up the slack in the connection `as the clamps are drawn down `toward the car and means for holding the carriage to support a car when inthe dump-V ing position. Y

4. A car damper comprising a cradle and v means for rotating it, car holding clamps vmovable thereon toward and from a car, a `rotatable drum removed fromr the cradle, cables connecting the drum and the clamps, meansfor rotating the drum to exert a tension on the cables and take up the slack themof independent of the position ofthe clamps, a counterweighted lever associated y `with the drum and means responsive to roy tation of the cradle for connecting the lever and drum whereby as the cradle rotates to the .dumping position `the counterweighted lever resists rotation of the drum and exerts a car holdin tension on the cable.

r5. A car umpercomprising a cradle and meansifor rotating it, car holding clamps movable thereon toward and from a car, a rotatabledrum removed from the cradle, a clamp' holdin cable associated with the drum, means l'or maintaining a tension on p thefcable between the drum and clamp to take uptheslack, a counterweighted lever associated with the drumfand means automatically responsive to the .rotation of the i cradle for-disconnecting the drum and counterwe' hted `lever while the cradle is in the genera ly upright position forV lconnecting the drum` and counterweighted lever when the cradle approaches the dumping .position to causethe counterweight lever to rotate l the drum to' exert a clamp holdingV tension 'onthe cable. f ,4

`Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this iirst day of March,

y y FRANK B. CALDWELL. 

